§ 16-87-6. Planning for prekindergarten expansion.
On or before December 31, 2022, the department of elementary and secondary education,
in collaboration with the department of human services and the children's cabinet,
as established in § 42-72.5-1, shall submit to the governor, speaker of the house, president of the senate, and
chairs of the house and senate finance and education committees, an annual growth
plan to expand the state prekindergarten program to five thousand (5,000) seats, for
three- and four-year-old children, over five (5) years, beginning in FY 2024, as well
as recommendations for achieving universal prekindergarten in the state.
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§ 16-87-6. Planning for prekindergarten expansion.
On or before December 31, 2022, the department of elementary and secondary education,
in collaboration with the department of human services and the children's cabinet,
as established in § 42-72.5-1, shall submit to the governor, speaker of the house, president of the senate, and
chairs of the house and senate finance and education committees, an annual growth
plan to expand the state prekindergarten program to five thousand (5,000) seats, for
three- and four-year-old children, over five (5) years, beginning in FY 2024, as well
as recommendations for achieving universal prekindergarten in the state. The growth
plan shall detail annual targets and projected funding needs, as well as how the state
will:
(1) Equitably distribute prekindergarten funding to eligible providers;
(2) Ensure that access to infant and toddler care is not at risk as the state prekindergarten
program is expanded;
(3) Prepare, recruit, and retain a highly-qualified early childhood workforce, including
adequate wages for early childhood educators, regardless of setting;
(4) Build capacity among new and existing providers to ensure quality standards are met
in all settings; and
(5) Ensure providers in the mixed-delivery system have sufficient facilities to expand
access to high-quality prekindergarten services.